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If you don’t know Tara McPherson, you must be living under a rock. Her paintings are both beautiful and thought provoking and her awesome gig posters have won her the title of “Princess of Poster Art.” She has had countless gallery shows around the world and has been featured in numerous publications including Juxtapoz, Esquire, Vanity Fair, Sony Magazine, NY Times and more. Her popularity has exploded and you can now find Tara McPherson toys, shirts, laptop covers, lighters, and more! She currently is off and running through Europe, promoting her new book “Lost Constellations.” This just in: Thunder Chunky has lunched an “I Heart Tara” competition where you can win a signed book. Check it. Before Tara left on her tour, she most graciously answered a few silly questions for our blog. Her seductive imagery and kick-ass attitude have launched her into success, but as a painter and a woman, she is an inspiration to us. Thanks again Tara.

1. What inspires you?
Art, music, all the crazy friends I have and their actions and reactions to situations. Lamp. I love lamp.

2. whats your work environment like?
I have a store front art studio, i’m very organized. I’m probably one of the cleanest painters you’ll ever meet.

3. Do you have a favorite piece that you have done? Which one and why?
No, it’s too hard to pick. I like different ones for different reasons, at different times in my life. But I tend to like the newer ones more. They are all my little babies.

4. how long do you usually spend on one of your pieces?
It depends how long I have to work on something. Anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks. But lately I’ve been working on a whole body of work at once, so I’ll jump around from piece to piece, completing them all at roughly the same time. This can be over a matter of weeks or months.

5. what are you doing when you are not painting/drawing?
Having dreams about painting and drawing. But, this last week during my waking hours when I wasnt at the studio, I played bar Trivia with friends, DJ’ed a dance party, had good brunches, saw rad bands.

6. If you could be a color what would you be?
Turquoise!!

7. what makes you smile?
Chickenbutt.

8. sunrise or sunset?
Sunset

9. Last passport stamp:
England

10. whats one thing you MUST have with you when you travel?
A hairdryer. I battle with curly hair, and I have bangs. If you are a girl you know what I mean.

11. most played in your itunes?
Let’s see… it’s a few that have the highest play count, so to be fair I will list the top 5. These Arms are Snakes, Zozobra, Dead Meadow, High on Fire, and Torche. I just reinstalled my iTunes, so this count is my top from 2009.

12. if you could do something dangerous just once with no risk what would you do?
Skydive. Or a spacewalk.

13. what did you get into trouble for the most when you were young?
Me? Get in trouble? Well I dont know, probably for staying out too late? I was actually a really good kid. I dont remember getting into too much trouble…
14. Who are the designers/artists who have influenced or inspired you?
Bronzino, Botticelli, Schiele, Mucha, Sargent, Hokusai, Yoshitomo Nara, Miyazaki, Terada, John Currin, Mark Ryden, Glenn Barr, Jeff Soto, Viner, Kozik, Tim Biskup, Mike Mignola, Paul Pope, Kent Williams, James Jean and many many more…

15. you now have many different products available, from posters to toys to laptop covers! How do you react when you see your work on products or places in public? Have you gotten used to seeing your work around town?
Yeah I totally love it. I’ve always wanted to make stuff. I love stuff. So it’s super cool for me to see it around.

17. what’s one of the most important things you did as a breakthrough artist? One step/event that really catapulted your career?
Work my ass off! It wasnt really one event for me, it was the slow building of a solid base that I think helped. It all snowballs you know?
18. Have you any advice for new and aspiring illustrators?
It’s the combination of Talent, Hard Work, and Luck that makes it!

19. What are you working on now?
Then next week I continue my book tour in 19 cities for the next 3 months thoughout Europe, to San Diego Comic Con, through Brazil, and then to Dragon Con. After than I’m home painting on upcoming gallery shows again.
20. where would you like to see yourself in 5 years? (with your art career or other)
Doing exactly what I’m doing right now. It’s perfect….

3. Whats your favorite medium?
I draw my illustrations in ink on paper. so this is what I use most
often. When I have time I experiment with all kinds of other things in
my sketchbooks and make a big mess.

4. Whats your work environment like?
I work at a lovely big desk and get to look out of the window at a
beautiful tree all day. I need to be in a quiet space to really
concentrate and get things done, so it’s perfect.

5. What inspires you?
Shapes, colours, light and stories.

6. Whats messages or themes do you portray in your work?
With illustration, the messages are often given to you by the nature
of the commission. I love drawing characters and they’re central to my
work.

7. Do you have a favorite piece that you have done? Which one and why?
I think my favourites are those I will work on next. I really love the
process of creating illustrations, but once they’re done, all I do is
think about the next thing.

8. What is your first art-making memory as a kid?
I used to make huge crayon drawings about fairytales when I was two
years old. And I loved fingerpaint, of course!

9. What are you doing when you are not drawing?
I like to go running and I’m trying to read more books. Going on
little adventures with my boyfriend. Truthfully, most of my time is
spent working. I find it very hard to stop.

10. If you could be a color what would you be?
Oh it would be too sad to be only one colour! I could never choose one.

11. What makes you smile?
At the moments, reading Moomin books makes me very happy.

12. Can’t stand:
Negativity.

13. Can’t live without:
Drawing.

14. Most played in your itunes?
I love listening to audio books when I’m working, at the moment it’s
the Inkheart trilogy.

15. Who are the designers/artists who have influenced or inspired you?
I don’t think I could narrow it down, every day different things and
different people inspire me. Growing up I really loved Ilon Wiklands
work and Janosch. I think they made me want to be an illustrator.

16. Name the websites/blogs that you cant live without.
Flickr, I think. There’s so many inspiring things to find.

17. Have you any advice for new and aspiring illustrators?
Never give up. I think everybody goes through really hard times.

The first time I came across Anke’s website I fell in love, spending hours going through all of her work. She has been bookmarked in my google toolbar for years and I’m so excited to share some of her art with you! You can find her work in publications including Newsweek and Bang Art and she also has an online Etsy shop where you can purchase her gift cards, stickers and more. We’re glad to feature her here. Thanks again Anke! 🙂